|
| Extract/compound | Doses | Route of administration | Model | Effect | Reference |
|
| Antiarthritis effect |
| Total coumarins from Urtica dentata Hand | 20, 40, 60 mg/kg | Orally every other day for 4 weeks after induction of arthritis | Collagen-induced arthritis BALB/c mice model | Dose-dependent ↓ arthritis score ↓paw swelling protect tissues against bone destruction ↓IFN-g, ↓IL-2 ↑IL-10, ↑TGF-B | [63] |
|
| Antioxidant effect |
| Total 80% ethanolic extract of Urtica dioica L. leaves | 50, 100 mg/kg | Orally daily for 14 days | Normal Swiss albino mouse model | ↑cytochrome b5, ↑NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, ↑glutathione S-transferase, ↑DT-diaphorase, ↑glutathione peroxidase, ↑glutathione reductase, ↑superoxide dismutase, ↑catalase ↓cytochrome P450, ↓lactate dehydrogenase, ↓NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, ↓total sulfhydryl groups, ↓nonprotein sulfhydryl groups, ↓protein-bound sulfhydryl groups | [64] |
|
| Antidiabetic effect |
| Hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of Urtica pilulifera | Two doses: 250 and 500 mg/kg | Orally daily for 4 weeks starting from day11 of diabetes induction | Streptozotocin and high-fat diet-induced type2 diabetes adult male albino rat model | Hypoglycemic effect - ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts ↓glucose level, ↓HbA1C, ↓ insulin resistance anti-inflammatory: ↓CRP, ↓TNF-α antioxidant: ↓MDA, ↑GSH, ↑SOD, ↑catalase | [65] |
| ZnO nanoparticles + aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaves | ZnO + extract: 8 mg/dl | Intraperitoneally daily for 16 days | Alloxan-induced diabetic rat model | Both ZnO-extract and insulin (reference) ↓fasting blood glucose level in serum, while increased insulin level. ZnO-extract: ↑high-density lipoprotein ↓total cholesterol, ↓triglycerides | [66] |
|
| Antiendometriosis effect |
| Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Urtica dioica L. aerial parts | 100 mg/kg | Orally for 4 weeks | Surgery-induced endometriosis rat model | Methanol extract: ↓implant volumes, ↓adhesion scores ↓TNF-α, ↓VEGF, ↓IL-6; histopathological outcomes supported the results | [67] |
|
| Effect on prostate hyperplasia |
| Polysaccharide fraction of Urtica fissa | 62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg | Orally daily for 3 weeks | Testosterone propionate-induced prostate hyperplasia castrated rat model | ↓prostate hyperplasia the lowest dose (62.5 mg/kg)-↓ indexes of wet weight,↓ dry weight , ↓volume by 17%, 23% and 32% highest dose (250 mg/kg)-↓indexes of wet weight, dry weight, ↓volume were further reduced by 25%, 33% and 37%; histopathological examination supported the results | [68] |
|
| Effect on nephrotoxicity |
| Total 95% ethanol extract of Urtica dioica | Dose: 100 mg/kg | Orally daily for 10 days | Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male rabbit model | ↓ serum creatinine, ↓blood urea, ↓ nitrogen antioxidant-↑glutathione, ↓malondialdehyde | [69] |
|
| Antiviral effect |
| Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) | Three doses: 20, 10, 5 mg/kg | Intraperitoneally daily for 4 days | SARS-CoV- infected BALB/c mouse model | Treatment with UDA at dose 5 mg/kg significantly sheltered the mice against lethal infection with the virus but did not decrease virus titers in the lung; prevented weight loss and lung pathology scores of infected mice | [70] |
|
| Antiaging effect |
| Total extract (50% ethanol) of Urtica thunbergiana leaves | Two doses: 0.1% and 1% g/kg of the animals’ dry diet | Orally for 10 weeks | UVB-induced skin aging hairless mouse model | ↓thinner and superficial wrinkles ↓erythema index ↑skin hydration; histopathological investigations supported the results | [71] |
|
| Anticancer effect |
| Dichloromethane extract of Urtica dioica | Two doses: 10 and 20 mg/kg | Intraperitoneally daily for 28 days | 4T1 (breast cancer cell line) allograft tumor BALB/c mouse model | ↓tumor size and weight. ↑apoptosis, ↓proliferation. ↓Bcl2, ↑caspase 3; histopathology examinations supported the results | [72] |
|
